FACT SHEET FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

Trichomoniasis

What is trichomoniasis? Trichomoniasis — “trich” for short — is an infection that is most common in sexually active women age 16 to 35. (Men can have trich, too, but usually have fewer symptoms and often don’t need treatment to clear up the infection.) If you have trich, you need medication to stop your symptoms and prevent spreading the infection to sex partners. This handout gives you basic information on trichomoniasis, how it’s treated, and what you can do to prevent it. What causes it? Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite, a tiny organism called Trichomonas vaginalis. Trich is passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Trich is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections or diseases (STIs or STDs) among young, sexually active women. Recent studies suggest that more Most common in young women, than 2 million women in the U.S. currently have trichomoniasis is a curable infection. trichomoniasis. Why is it a concern? What are the symptoms? Trich is completely curable, but you shouldn’t ignore A woman with trichomoniasis may have one or it. Trich can cause annoying and painful symptoms more of these common symptoms, which may (see the list at right) and may make it easier to catch come and go: another STI such as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. •• Vaginal discharge. The discharge may be gray, If you’re pregnant, trich brings these additional risks: yellow, or green. It may be thin or foamy and may •• Your baby may be born too soon smell bad. •• Your baby may be small at birth (low birth weight) •• Itching, redness, soreness. Your genitals or inner thighs may itch, look red (inflamed), or feel sore. •• Your baby may catch the trich infection from you Some women describe it as a burning feeling. during delivery •• Pain. You may feel pain when you urinate. Some Also, as long as you have trich, you can pass it to sex women also have pain during sex or an ache in partners. This is true even if you don’t have symptoms. their lower abdomen. An infection can last for months or even years. Keep in mind that some women have very mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all. Symptoms can show up 5 to 28 days after you are first infected. 1 How is it diagnosed? How can it be prevented? To diagnose trichomoniasis, your healthcare provider Abstinence — not having sex — is the only will ask questions about your symptoms and do a guaranteed way to prevent trichomoniasis and other pelvic exam. During the pelvic exam, your provider sexually transmitted infections. However, you can may see small red sores on your vagina or cervix lower your chance of getting and spreading trich and caused by trich infection. Your provider may swab the other STIs by doing the following: inside of your vagina to get a sample of the fluid there •• Always use a condom (practice “protected sex”). and then look at the sample under a microscope or Used correctly and consistently, condoms help send it to a lab. Lab testing can confirm the diagnosis. prevent both pregnancy and STIs. How is trichomoniasis treated? •• Limit your sex partners to one person who you know does not have trich or any other STI. Trich is usually treated with one of the following antibiotic medications: Remember that you can get trich more than once. If you notice symptoms after treatment, see your •• Metronidazole (brand name: Flagyl) provider again to get your symptoms checked out. •• Tinidazole (brand name: Tindamax) Both of these antibiotics come in a pill that you take by mouth — usually only one dose is needed. If you’re allergic to these medications, your provider may prescribe a different antibiotic that comes in a cream or gel. Since the cream and gel medications tend to not work as well as the pills, you may need to be tested and treated again. After taking an antibiotic, it takes about 10 days to clear the infection. During this time, you should not have unprotected sex with anyone because you can still spread the infection. Your partner may also need to be treated.

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